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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hell is about to break loose ... CQ WW SSB 2013 !!

OK!

CQ WW RTTY was a nice warm-up. But, we've finally come to the best event of the best.

Next weekend we are all participating in CQ WW DX SSB 2013 Contest.

I've had several emails asking for potential skeds, during the contest, etc.

I arranged 0 (zero) skeds. I believe having a sked will make it more difficult to stick to the strategy plans. Maybe a few nice mults on 160m would be helpful to sked with, though.



Gentlemen, CQ WW SSB is ... WAR !! Speed and accuracy are what you need, combined with the best sleeping strategy you can get, as well as keeping up with propagation predictions.

Personally, I will participate in SOAB(A)HP category, under (TS) sub-category, which means, tireness, blazed vision on evening of day 2, taking the station to its limits and "fighting" with the best contesters worldwide.

For every potential participant, please try to respect the band plan and stick to the crucial points of DX Code of Conduct, for instance, if you don't hear the mult, don't call in vain making it harder for others that copy the mult, etc... , you will eventually get your chance, too.

All contest audio will be recorded and I am also thinking of streaming it together with the total scores window of my contest program. Keep returning to this post for any potential update, mentioning the stream's URL.

Many interesting calls will be aired during the contest. Have a good look at this URL: http://www.ng3k.com/misc/cqs2013.html and mark your targets !!!

All of my contest QSOs will be uploaded to LotW, as always on Monday morning.

CU all on the air

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

TX5D ATNO in the log

TX5D is currently operating from Raivavae Island (OC-114) from Austral island DXCC entity (FO/A). Operations are scheduled to cease on October 14th.

Austral was a much missed ATNO for my logs. I hadn't even worked it with my old Athenian callsign SV1DKL, either.



So, it was a big chance to finally make at least one QSO for an all time new one for me.
Propagation was really funny to Austral and when TX5D was heard in EU, I was at work :-(

But, on October 8th, I woke up quite early, as usual when I have to go for my morning training, so I thought I'd have a look at the DX Cluster before leaving.
There was a spot for TX5D at 14.235 from a West Coast guy, but my tribander was already pointing there short-path, so I tuned in to check my luck ... TX5D was there with a strong 5/7 signal, which btw was the only one heard on 20m at that specific time (0216z).

Lit the linear and gave a shout 5 up ... TX5D op was as much surprised as I was when listening to him say "just the SV5 please" !!

That's it !!

QSO in the log and after me he went on working West Coast like crazy !! Afterwards, quite a few europeans had the chance to exchange RST with him, too.

Thankfully, SV5DKL has as of then 308 DXCC worked, whilst combined logs with SV1DKL show a total of 330 DXCC worked ... if only they counted in combination !!

Another ATNO will be aired (I hope, soon) from Wake Atoll under the callsign K9W. There has been a press release mentoning they are delayed due to the constrained US public sector, but I am sure they will overcome this obstacle, too !!

14th October 2013 Update:
 
TX5D worked also on 17m SSB !! Nice going ...

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

3rd GTC CW Cup this weekend ... Get Ready !!

 
Finally, the time has come for Greek Telegraphy Club's yearly fest.
This coming weekend, 5-6/10/2013 the 3rd GTC CW Cup will gather all of our members and friends together to a most enjoyable event.
 
Dust off your keyer and paddles and join in, we'll be so happy to hear you on.
 
Full details on the 3rd GTC CW Cup are posted at the official web site of GTC which you may find below:
 
 
From this year on, there will be special interest for the hunting of GTC's Club Station, SZ1SV, worth most points (100), which will be activated circularly throughout the event, from various locations of the Greek Territory.
 
CU on air